A high rate of very early, CNS, and BM relapse with a considerably low 5-year OS requiring reassessment of therapy was documented. Organomegaly at diagnosis was a highly significant clinical predictor for relapse.

No abstract

In 1963 Jean Bernard introduced the concept of “geographic hematology” and distinguished 2 branches, i.e., “ethnic hematology,” which deals with differences between populations, and “environmental hematology,” which considers factors such as food habits, infections, and others. Both of these branches have implications in the distribution of hematological diseases worldwide. In comparison with Caucasian populations, in Mexico a significantly higher prevalence of acute lymphoblastic, acute promyelocytic, and acute megakaryoblastic leukemias has been described. The rate of chronic myeloid leukemia seems to be as high as that reported in Caucasian populations, while other myeloproliferative neoplasias are significantly less frequent in Mexico. Significantly lower prevalences of hairy cell leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, multiple myeloma, and Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia have been reported from Mexico. Regrettably, the influence of drug companies interested in selling their new and expensive drugs has resulted in both overdiagnosis of some diseases and overidentification of the refractory forms of some of these conditions to justify the use of unnecessary drugs.

Hospitalizations for children with ALL were less expensive than in high-income countries but had a significant cost to low-income families and to the healthcare system.

BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) represents an alternative source of stem cells for transplantation for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and genetic disorders. There is scarce information detailing cord blood bank (CBB) collection and transplantation activities from developing countries. We documented our experience at a public university hospital in northeast Mexico. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We carried out a retrospective and descriptive analysis of our CBB activity during an 8‐year period from May 2002 to September 2010. Collection, processing, and cryopreservation of CB were carried out following standard operating procedures. The minimum volume and total nucleated cell (TNC) content for cryopreservation were 80 mL and 8.0 × 108, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 1256 UCB units were collected; 428 (34%) were banked and 828 (66%) were discarded. The main reason for exclusion was biologic: low volume and/or low number of TNC accounted for 84% of the total discarded units. Cryopreserved cord blood units (CBUs) had a median volume of 113.8 mL (range, 80‐213.2 mL) and 13.0 × 108 (range, 8 × 108‐36.6 × 108) TNCs. Cell viability was 99.3% (88‐100%). The median CD34+ cell content was 4.0 × 106 (0.46 × 106‐19.38 × 106). Sixteen units have been released for transplantation, leading to a utilization rate of 3.7%. CONCLUSION: CBB demands considerable human and financial resources; it is then essential for centers at developing countries to share their experience, results, and databases to increase the probability of finding matching units for their patients. Efforts to create and maintain CBBs allow to offer this therapeutic option at an affordable cost.